Dutch Poffertjes (Mini Pancakes)

4.67 from 6 votes

Dutch Poffertjes are the cutest and fluffiest mini pancakes ever! These puffy pancakes are a popular street food in the Netherlands but they’re easy to make at home with a special cast iron pan. This no-yeast recipe is perfect for busy mornings.

a plate of poffetjes with powdered sugar

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No-Yeast Dutch Poffertjes recipe

Weekend pancakes are in order! Dutch poffertjes are a fluffy pancake that is sure to impress at your next brunch.

These little pancakes are so cute and fluffy, with a delicate spongy texture. Little hands especially love to hold these miniature pancakes!

The first time I tried this traditional Dutch Treat was during a trip to Amsterdam back in college and I absolutely fell in love with these little things!

Perhaps you tried them on a trip too, and maybe you came home with a special frying pan for these mini Dutch pancakes? Food souvenirs are the best! Let’s learn how to make this easy recipe so you can put that pan to good use!

powdered sugar on a plate of poffertjes

What are poffertjes?

Poffertjes (pronounced poff-her-chess) are small, fluffy pancakes from the Netherlands. Made in a cast-iron mold to create perfect puffs of pancakes, they are usually served hot with a pat of butter and a generous dusting of powdered sugar.

They are traditionally made from buckwheat flour and yeast, but the recipe below is made with all-purpose flour and without yeast for a simpler option.

In the Netherlands, they are served at street markets, especially at the holidays, but they can be made at home with the proper pan. (See the section about Poffertje pans below.)

a poffertjes on a fork

Dutch Poffertjes vs. Danish Aebleskiver

This easy poffertjes recipe is more similar to Danish Aebleskiver because it is made with baking powder and not yeast. The traditional way to make Dutch poffertjes is with instant yeast, but the batter then has to rise for about an hour.

Aebleskiver are usually made with baking powder as the leavener. Baking powder makes for a quicker prep time because the batter doesn’t have to rest for an hour to rise, as with yeast.

You can call them whatever you like — they’re both delicious!

dutch poffertjes ingredients

Ingredients

These easy poffertjes can be made with ingredients you probably already have on hand! Here’s what you will need:

  • all-purpose flour (or a mix of all-purpose flour and buckwheat flour — see Variations section below)
  • milk
  • butter
  • eggs
  • baking powder
  • salt
  • powdered sugar
an empty poffertjes pan

Poffertje Pan

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Poffertjes are made in a special pan called a poffertjespan (meaning poffertjes pan).

It is a cast-iron pan similar to the type of pan used for Danish Aebleskiver or Japanese Takoyaki.

These pans have several hollowed-out cavities for the tiny pancakes to cook in, so you will need to work in batches.

Once the poffertjes batter is bubbly, the pancakes will need to be flipped. You can use a wooden skewer, chopstick or fork to flip them over in the cavity, or you can order a set of turning tools meant for these pancakes. (A knitting needle would work too!)

There are a few different types of poffertje pans.

How to make Dutch Poffertjes

Making Dutch mini pancakes is so easy! Here’s what you’ll need to do:

a bowl of flour

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, salt and baking powder. Mix until well combined.

eggs and milk to be whisked with flour mixture

Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients and add the eggs and milk. Whisk until well combined.

a bowl of pancake batter

Melt the butter and add it to the batter. Whisk until completely smooth.

Over medium-low heat, heat up the poffertjes pan and let small pieces of butter melt in each cavity. (That little bit of melted butter helps to keep them from sticking to the pan.)

Once hot, fill each cavity halfway full with the pancake batter, about 1-2 tablespoons. You can use a small cookie scoop to spoon in the batter.

a castiron poffertjespan with pancakes ready to flip

Cook for about 3 minutes or until you see bubbles come up (like the picture). Then flip over and cook the other side for about 3 minutes as well. Then remove from the pan and continue until the batter is finished.

poffertjes in a pan

Serve while hot with confectioners’ sugar and a pat of butter, or with one of the toppings mentioned below.

Variations and substitutions

Try one of these variations on these delicious things to come up with your favorite way to make them!

Traditional Dutch Poffertjes: Substitute buckwheat flour for the all-purpose flour. Alternatively you can use a mixture of ¾ cup buckwheat flour and ¾ cup all-purpose flour.

Gluten free poffertjes: Instead of all-purpose flour, use a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend such as Bob’s Red Mill.

Chocolate chip poffertjes: Stir in ¼ cup mini chocolate chips into the batter before adding it to the poffertjes pan. Serve with melted Nutella.

Lemon Poffertjes: Add the zest of one lemon to the batter. Serve with squeeze of lemon juice and powdered sugar.

Chocolate Poffertjes: Add 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder to the dry ingredients. Serve with chocolate syrup or fresh fruit.

closeup of dutch mini pancakes

Poffertje toppings

If you are serving a crowd, it’s a good idea to set out a few different toppings for folks to tailor their poffertjes to their liking. Here are a few ideas:

  • melted butter
  • powdered sugar
  • cinnamon sugar
  • Nutella (slightly warmed for easy drizzling)
  • peanut butter (slightly warmed for easy drizzling)
  • lemon wedges to squeeze on top
  • maple syrup
  • strawberry syrup
  • jam
  • fresh fruit such as apple slices, strawberries, blueberries and blackberries
  • vanilla ice cream
dutch mini pancakes

Pancakes around the world

Pancakes are a universal treat, but they are so different around the world! Poffertjes are the traditional pancake of Holland. Here are some other pancakes to check off your list!

Buttermilk pancakes are the version we know and love in the United States. Stacks upon stacks with butter and maple syrup, please! It’s not unusual to see other flavors of pancakes, like banana pancakes.

From France, we have crêpes, thin pancakes that are usually stuffed with goodies like Nutella and fruit. They can also be made savory with vegetables.

Pannekoek are thin, crepe-like pancakes from South Africa. My mom’s recipe!

Dutch Baby Pancakes are fluffy German pancakes made in a skillet.

The Danish have Aebleskiver, which are fluffy pancake balls similar to Dutch poffertjes.

Japanese pancakes are extra thick, fluffy pancakes made soufflé-style in molds. Korean sweet pancakes have a filling inside.

— Did you make this recipe? —

Please leave a ★★★★★ review or comment below.

dutch mini pancakes

Dutch Poffertjes

Yield: 8 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Poffertjes, AKA Dutch mini pancakes, are a tasty breakfast or dessert! Serve them with powdered sugar and butter or your favorite pancake toppings.
4.67 from 6 votes
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ingredients

instructions

  • In a medium bowl, combine the flour, salt and baking powder. Mix until well combined.
  • Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients and add the eggs and milk. Whisk until well combined.
  • Slowly, pour in the melted butter while whisking. Whisk until completely smooth.
  • Over medium-low heat, heat up the poffertjes pan and let small pieces of butter melt in each cavity.
  • Once hot, fill each cavity halfway full with batter.
  • Cook for about 3 minutes or until you see bubbles on the tops.
  • Flip over with a wooden skewer or fork. Cook the other side for about 3 minutes. Then remove from the pan and repeat until the batter is finished.
  • Serve while hot with confectioners’ sugar and a pat of butter.

notes

Variations

Traditional Dutch Poffertjes: Substitute buckwheat flour for the all-purpose flour. Alternatively you can use a mixture of ¾ cup buckwheat flour and ¾ cup all-purpose flour.
Gluten free poffertjes: Instead of all-purpose flour, use a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend such as Bob’s Red Mill.
Chocolate chip poffertjes: Stir in ¼ cup mini chocolate chips into the batter before adding it to the poffertjes pan. Serve with melted Nutella.
Lemon Poffertjes: Add the zest of one lemon to the batter. Serve with squeeze of lemon juice and powdered sugar.
Chocolate Poffertjes: Add 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder to the dry ingredients. Serve with chocolate syrup or fresh fruit.

Topping ideas

  • melted butter
  • powdered sugar
  • cinnamon sugar
  • Nutella (slightly warmed for easy drizzling)
  • peanut butter (slightly warmed for easy drizzling)
  • lemon wedges to squeeze on top
  • maple syrup
  • strawberry syrup
  • jam
  • fresh fruit (apple slices, berries, etc.)
  • vanilla ice cream

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nutrition information

Yield: 8 servings

amount per serving:

Serving: 4poffertjes Calories: 222kcal Carbohydrates: 21g Protein: 5g Fat: 13g Saturated Fat: 8g Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 4g Trans Fat: 0.5g Cholesterol: 79mg Sodium: 226mg Potassium: 69mg Fiber: 1g Sugar: 3g Vitamin A: 447IU Calcium: 91mg Iron: 1mg
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Comments

  1. Carla says

    I make poffertjes quite often, but normally using a mix. Since I was out, I decided to follow this recipe, and it needed quite a bit of help! First, the liquid needs to be at least tripled – I added another half cup of milk and a half cup of water. It should be thin enough to squeeze out of a ketchup-type squirt bottle to fill the divots in the pan. Also, it needed some flavor! After making two servings, which was about half the batter, I added 1 Tbs sugar and 1 tsp vanilla to the remaining batter. It still wasn’t perfect, but at least a little better!

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